The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-04
to her Miss World yielded It, with the In

TO her Miss World yielded II, with the In
junction that Molly should keep ''look
out" on the country 10 the south, and the
minute a human being appeared on the
solitary landscape 10 apprise A.ss World
OF the fact Meanwhile, the lady herself,
to appease her impatience, would explore
famous cave in the bowels OF Wild Cat
mountain
Beyond the stone cross, under shelv-
ing rock, yawned an opening IN the earth,
through which Miss World dropped, clasp
ing the uprights Of a long crcaky ladder.
As she descended all grew gradually
darker. and when she paused on the lower
ruurs for her sight 10 grow used 10 the
gloom. a spark of fire advanced towards
her out 0f The furthest darkness. Nearer
and nearer Now il stopped before her.
IL was Indian Joe and his cicartO lie
was speaking rapidly IN Spanish. rs WINS
his wa, when agtated-he would go. lac
would go, DE said. Perhaps tie woman
understood nothing; possibly she did not
wish him 10 think her afraid, for she
moved in no way that he might ascend
The ladder, and only looked at him search
.ngly through the dusk, and wanted TO
know what he vas doing there2
lie was on his own land, looking for
buried money and your he asked; but
she did not choose 10 answer that qucs-
ton "Ah, / know" he said, i'm his grave,
soft way $40 use 10 wait Englshman
comes not this evening No use 10 wait;
his wife s.ck.'
Wife sick, indeed and what was that
20 her. and why should that deter her
f....
blazing in the half darkness.
IS for him. he merely shrugged his
shoulders gracefully, and STOPPING whist
ling softly gently raised in his hand
Kissing rattlc-nakc, which had but the
moment crawled up at his feet The
snake swung IFS head from side 10 side,
as II beating time 10 the music of its mas
ter. After 10 had glided about his neck
and arms finally cOihng iu his breast, the
sWarthy chamcr carelessly tossed the rep
tile over his shoulder buck into the outer
darkness That was asirauge trick; Miss
World. being amused herewith, regarded
the dark faced athlete with 80 interested
and strange "a gaze. TINT be I'm his turn
thrilled t0 the look, softly sublued, as the
euake had been under his own cOuQuering
charm
lie had tamcless blood in him. And
now on the molly earth he sank-lay
there crying out bis wild heart loo am alien
tongue of mad prayer and words Of fire.
This exhibition was not 80 very anus
ing. and yet more dangerous than rattle
snake or dynamite. Miss World crawled
higher mp, and finally 20 the top of the
ladder, 10 see what Molly Derrick was
about
out beyond the shelving rock there was
no vista Only vast binding sheet Of
rain, through which the lightnngs, leap
ing. gave hrazeu glimpses of phostly trees
wrthng uprooted or snapped asunder ia
the valley below, while the thunder roared
and crashed among the hills
What of Molly Derrick, Had the tear
ing blast swept her from the summit into
the yellow hillside torrents on into the
swirlng canyon beyond2
When the storm cleared and the moons
washed face looked out Molly was dis
covered. drenched bruised and buIeted
with cung.ng by rock and shrub. but srll
dominaut-at her post with the field glass.